Lumber puller and washer



(No Model.) 4 sheet -sheer 1.

J. D. HILLS.

LUMBER FULLER AND WASHER. No. 485,935. Patented Nov. 8. 1892.

(No Model.) I 4 SheetsSheet 2.

J. D. HILLS.

LUMBER FULLER AND WASHER. No. 485, 93 5. Patented Nov. 8, 1892.

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l I A I I {um I 1' I 1 T 'l Y I (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

J, 1). HILLS. LUMBER FULLER AND WASHER.

No. 485,935. Patented Nov. 8, 1892.

4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

(No Model.)

J. D, HILLS. LUMBER FULLER. AND WASHER.

4 W i 00 v 1 Z dw 8 WM I W W3 K w E 5 H M e oo t n 00 6 b a UNITEDSTAT-Es PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES 1). HILLS, or MENOMONEE, WISCONSIN.

LUMBER FULLER- :AND WASHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 485.935, dated November-8, 1892.

Applicationfiled January 12. 1892. Serial No. 417,838. (No model.)

To all whom/it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JAMEs'D. HILLS, a citizen of the United-States,residing at Menomonee, in the county of Dunn and State of Wisconsin,have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Lumber Pullers andWashers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, andexact description of the invention, such as wiil enable others skilledin the art to whichitappertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to means which elevate, automatically wash, andconvey separate pieces of lumber from the rafts on which it is carriedon the rivers or streams tothe wagons upon which it is deposited, ormills in which it is used, or yards or places where it-is graded,sorted, and piled; and its object is to avoid much of the labor andexpense after taking it by hand from the rafts of. washing off the mudand dirt which collects upon it with pails of water carried in the handand of conveying the washed lumber from the shore tothe places desired.

My invention consists in a combination of a continuously feeding orconveying bed, in-

clined directors, lumber-supporting horses, endlesscontinuously-operating puller, and elevatingchains arranged on one orboth sides of a trough formed by the inclined directors andconveyer-bed, and an automatic 3 washer-head connected with awater-forcing means which discharges the waterwith sufficient power toremove mud and extraneous matters from the lumber, whereby the lumher istaken from the rafts and directed and conveyed to and from an automaticlumberwasher cleanly washed.

It alsoconsists in an automatic lumberwasher arranged in suitableproximity to the line of travel of the lumber which is elevated from therafts and deposited upon the conveyer-bed or is otherwise brought inclose relation to it, so that as the lumber passes along upon'the saidbedwater shall be forcibly discharged upon it and such mud, sand, andgrit as may have collected upon it washed therefrom, and is thusrendered ready for assorting, grading, and piling, or for being sawed orplaned in the mill without undue wear from gritand dirt upon the planersor saws.

portion of the water conducting and dis-.

charging pipes of the pump also are shown broken away, and beyond thedelivery end a portion of a steeple-chain conveyer is represented; butthe same is not intended to be embraced as a part of this applicationfor a patent. Fig. 2 is a side elevationcit a portion of the mechanismshown in Fig. 1. In this view the'floating lumber-horses are not shown.Fig. 3 is an end view, on an'enlarged scale, showing a portion of themechanism represented in Fig. 1. In this view the washer is omitted inorder to expose other parts more distinctly. Fig. at is an enlargedbroken plan view of the washer, d riving-gearing, and other parts of themechanism in'close proximity to it. Fig. 5 is a broken side elevation ofsome of the parts shown in Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a crosssectional view ofthe conveyer roller-bed, showing the washer and part of the mechanism;and Fig. 7 is a similar view just in rear of the scouring-brushes.

A A in the drawings designate rafts of lumber on a river or stream; B,lumber-supporting horses mounted on floating raft-s B and adapted tostand at different altitudes, accordingly as the water-line is higher ori lower; 0, piles connected by frame-pieces C- and forming asupporting-frame O? below the higher and above the lower water-line.

D D' are inclined framepieces connected.

to the frames (1 and to the frame-pieces of a roller-bed conveyer-frameC and provided with sprocket-wheels or pulleys a, one at'top and theotherat bottom.

E E are endless pullers and elevating chains arranged around thesprocket-wheels or pulleys 'a and provided with supporting and carryinglugs 21, which passv n p. between" the timber extensionse'of the horsesand take the rollers an open trough F for the-pieces of lumber to fallinto when they become freed from the pullers and elevating-chains.

G are rollers forming a long roller conveyoroed, a portion of which maybe inclined for-"" ward of the pullers and elevating-chains,- as shown.These rollers are journaled in boxes of the frame C and they and thepullers andelevating-chains may be positively driven by gearvwheels f f,g g'-,h h, and k h h and by pulleyshaving beltsz' i" i i and gear-andsprockets/heels Z Za, said gearing being upplied-on journals of therollers and on snit able shafts-supported by the firamesfl C and piecesD D and-driven by an engine H con-* nected with-ai'boilerl. Other-systemor arrangement of gearing, engine, and boiler may be adopted withoutdeparting f rom' my in ven tion;

J is alumberswasher comprising, as one-of manypractical.constructions--"that-may be adopted, one or two rectangular framesformed of sectionsof tubing or piping connected by" elbows and Ts, saidsections being provided-- with augularly-set jet passages -ornozzles m,

whichdischa'rgewater toward the puller and 'r elevating-chains andagainst the top, bottom,

and 'edgesof the lumber or againstany: or-' tion of the surface .of thelem-benras deem-ed best. This washer is fastened upon itherframe- '0forward of: the puller and elevating-chainsand preferably oocupies aposition which incloses the-bed within the sections of its tubing andbrings its jets beneath, above, and on each-side of the pieces of lumberpassed overthe roller conveyer-bed at thepoint J, which I designate asthe washer-section. This washer is-connected bya pipe-J with: a;forcing-.pump-J, said pump being provided with a water-induction pipe Jleading from the rivemor stream, and also beingeonnected by pipe-Jwiththe boiler. i, which operates the steam engine-H.' tIn rearof thewasheris a-' brushmead-K, with brushes K placed in its rectangularframe, so as to brushofi m-nd, sand,-; and gritz-fromthe top,battens-and sides-'- of the pieces of lnmberxas they-pass .tothewasher,- -and thnsthe labor of washingotfthe mass off mud anddirt islessened-and the work vof cleaning and .w-ashing the lumber is-"morereadily and perfectly-performed.- Forwarder the washer -asystem ofsteeple .and: other chains LIL, forming conveyors, may be. arranged atrightangles to" the roller-bed-com" veyer-for deliveringthe washedlumber either to carsortoothersystemsof machinery; These steepleand-otherchains and'the machinery here incidentally mentioned are notincluded-' in this application for a patent, as the same:

hack of these;when' the lumber'is very muddy,

5 January, 1892, Serial No. 418,682 If the l'nmberafterbeing'wa'shed isnot discharged upon steeple and other chains, it may be discharged fromthe roller-conveyer on slides to a platform. In the drawings the pullerand elevatingchains'are represented on both sides of the roller-bed;butit is not always intended to use them on both sides, as in somelocalities they can only be used on one side, and it may alsoben'ecessary to construct the mechanism up and-down stream instead ofout in the river; but in all cases the lumber would pass through thewasherand be taken therefrom in any manner found advantageous. Then thepuller and elevating-chains are constructed-to take --'lumber fro'm'rafts'on b'oth sides'of the roller- --bed,-the lugs b of the chain'swill be so ar--- #ranged' "relatively that when lumberis dumped into"the troughfol-med by the clined' directors at oneend -say between thepoints- W -and W"'-there 'will"-be lumber dumped intothe same at thesame time at the -'90 other-end say between the points W W jon theopposite-'side -and "thus theiumber does not lap one length on theotherinthe trough, -but hastime enough to run out of the trough beforethe next lumber comes up, the same coming up at opposite corn'ers fromwhere" the first ri-gh-tand left side loads came'up.= Theseouring-brushes-are' preferably madeof steel-Wireybutthey may be madeo'f other suitabledurable-material, and they may b'e too eitherstationaryorrevolving; Theconveyei bed -=may-=be 'form'ed' either *oflive rollers or chains-or metallic cables." The V 'washer may compriseone,+--two, or more washer-hea'da-and [05 as is oftenthe case withthat-*coming from 'the'bottom of the rafts, one or two'se'ts or brushesmaybe employed to loosen the mud from the lumber. The washer 'may-beapplied in logways-leading to=mills=and the mud' no --anddirt washed from'thelo'gs-before' they pass to the saws; This would effecta'great'saving, as the saws would not so rapidly 'b'e --.worn 'ou-t nor quick-1ydulled; -With my "apparatus an'y lumber that is carried on rafts;including timbew ean be paSsed throi'i-gh the --washer.'

It is a great'ad-van tags to wash lumber clean: butthis has been' foun dtofbe" a'very'difli'ciflt' :operation under the old m'ode." when-"luni-izo her is washethc'lean, the grading is done much qniek er and better,as the grader can "grade=' "iu-agiven't'im'e agreaterqirantity ofcle'anlum 501 than dirty-lumber. '--'-Furthermore,-lumber* ewashed 'in the old"way has more "'01" 1e'ss -grikrz'5 and dirt remaining on it, andconsequently in .passingfitwthrongh 'pla net's-the knives soon" -getdull and'*-have-'to b'e'changedor'sharpenedr "whereaslumber "after"passing" through" my 'f'washer -is about as; clean when it comes-1 13bzfrom'the saw; and therefore -it ;is'much= bettei" to work up in plfsing-mills; as wanes to' han --dle in gradingw In operating themachinery herein described the lumber is taken by hand from the raft,placed on the floating horses, carried by the pullers andelevating-chains to the inclined conductors of the roller conveyer-bed,

deposited from one sidesay between the points XV W-and from the otherside-say between the points W W -upon the rollerbed conveyer, conveyedby said bed through the brushes and washer, brushed and washed andconveyed to the end of the roller-bed,and discharged upon slides to aplatform, or it may pass on to the steeple-chains and from there takento yards and piled or taken to the mill and used, or it may be gradedand assorted, as deemed most desirable.

What I claim as my invention is- 1. The within described combination ofmeans for washing lumber'in its transit from a river or stream to the.point of discharge, the same comprising the mechanically-supportedwater-discharging device arranged in suitable relation to the conveyorof the lumher being washed and between the river or stream and the pointwhere the washed lumher is discharged, the mechanical devices forsupplying and discharging water under pressure through said dischargingdevice upon lumber continuously moving past it, and the mechanicaldevices for continuously conveying the lumber lengthwise past thewashing device, substantially as described.

2. A means for Securing and washing lumher in its transit from a raft ona river or stream to the point of discharge, comprising an automaticbrush-head having brushes and an automatic water-discharging devicesupported by the lumber-conveyer, means connected with said device forforcibly discharging water through it upon the surface of the separatepieces of lumberin transit from a raft on a river or stream to theirpoint of discharge, and means for receiving the pieces of lumber fromthe handlers at the raft and carrying them past the automatic brushes orscourers and the washer, substantially as described.

3. A means for receiving, supporting, pulling from their supports, andelevating separate pieces-of lumber between raft-s on rivers or'streamsand their points of discharge and washing them in their transit, thesame comprising means for receiving the pieces of lumber from thehandlers at the raft and supporting them between their ends, means forpulling them from their supports and elevating and conveying them to thepoint of discharge,

an automatic water-discharging device,and means connected with saiddevice for forcibly discharging water through it upon the surface of thepieces of lumber in-their transit from the raft to theirpoint ofdischarge, substantially as described.

4. In combination, means for receiving the pieces of lumber from thehandlers at the raft and supporting them between their ends, means forpulling them from their supports for forcibly discharging water throughit upon the surface of the pieces of lumber in their transit from theraft to their point of discharge, substantially as described.

5. In combination, an automatic water-discharging device constructed tosurround and applied so as to have the pieces of lumber passed throughit and connected with means for forcibly discharging water through itupon the surface of separate pieces of lumber in their transit fromaraft on a river or stream to their points of discharge, and means forreceiving the pieces of lumber from the handlers at the rafts andcarrying them past the automatic washer, substantially as described.

6. In combination, means for securing and washing lumber in its transitfrom a raft on a river or stream to the points of discharge, comprisingan automatic brush-head and an automatic water-d ischargin g device,both constructed and applied to surround the-lumber in its passagethrough them, means connected with the water-discharging device forforcibly discharging water through it upon the surface of the separatepieces of lumber in its transit from a raft on a river or stream totheir points of discharge, and means for receiving the pieces of lumberfrom the handlers at the rafts and carrying them through the automaticscourer and washer, substantially as described.

7. In an apparatus for elevating and conveying lumber, the combinationof a brushhead, a washer-head provided with nozzles and connected withmeans for forcing water, and means for conveying lumber by the brush andwasher heads, whereby the sides of the lumber are cleanedsimultaneously.

8. In a lumber conveying and washing device, a continuously-feeding bed,a brushhead with'brushes, an automatic washer having oppositely-inclinedjet-passages, whereby the lumber is conveyedbetweenthe brushes andjet-passages, and water-forcing -means connected with the washer-head.

9. In an apparatus for conveying and washinglumber, a continuousconveyer, a'brushhead and washer-head, each surrounding said conveyer,and means for forcing water under pressure, connected with thewasher-head, whereby all sides of the lumber are cleaned as it is beingconveyed.

-10. In a lumber conveying and washing apparatus, a roller conveying-bedfor moving the lumber, a brush-head having brushes adapted to bear onall sides of the pieces of lumber, a washer-head provided with jet-passages directed toward all sides of the lumber, it continuously, wherebyall sides of the lumand water-forcing means connected with said her arecleaned-as it is being conveyed. 1.o

Washer-head. In testimony whereof I hereunto atfix niy 11. In a. lumberconveying and washing apsignature in presence of two itnesses.

paratus, a, washer-head provided with nozzles, JAMES D. HILLS.

means for forcing water under pressure, con- Witnesses: 4

neoted with said washer-head, and means for DOROTHEA PARKERf elevatingthe lumber from rafts and feeding ELMER J. NEWSOM.

